If you want the tree to be taller at some point, and your pruning and branch managing skills are sufficient to allow you to select and train up a new leader at a later date, removing the growing tip of the branch (apical meristem) will indeed force back-budding and a fuller tree in the immediate future (tree time). ;o) If your pruning skills are a little suspect, it might be better to allow the tree to grow to 2/3 of the height you envision it being maintained at, and terminating it at that point. That allows the canopy in to provide the additional 1/3 of the height.

Al

I had to remove a rogue branch from my Blood Orange a few months back.
Since it wasn't integral to the structure of the tree, I pruned it off without much thought.

If you can provide a picture, I'm sure that Al could brainstorm a tentative pruning plan.


Josh

About truncating the stem at 2/3 of the o/a ht you'd like the tree to be, I meant to say - 'That (plan) allows the canopy room to fill in and provide the additional 1/3 of the desired height'. Sorry - don't know where the missing words went? ;o)

Al

Thank you so much for your responses. I have never been very good with potted plants but I'm going to try very hard to make a go of it with this one.